Temple facts for kids
A temple is a special building where people go to practice their religion. It's a place for worship, praying, and performing important religious rituals and ceremonies. Think of it as a house of worship. For example, Christians often call their religious buildings churches.
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What Kinds of Temples Are There?
Temples come in many shapes and sizes, depending on the religion and culture. They are found all over the world and have been built for thousands of years.
Temples in Different Religions
Many different religions use temples as their main place of worship. Here are some examples:
- In Hinduism, temples are often called Mandirs. They are usually dedicated to specific gods or goddesses.
- Buddhism has many temples, like the famous Shaolin Temple in China. These are places for meditation and learning.
- Ancient Greek temples, like the Parthenon, were built to honor their gods and goddesses.
- Ancient Roman temples were also dedicated to their gods, similar to Greek temples.
- The Temple in Jerusalem was a very important place for Judaism in ancient times. Today, Reform Judaism often uses synagogues as their places of worship.
- The Mormon faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has many beautiful temples around the world.
- The Baha'i religion has special temples called Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, which are open to people of all faiths.
Why Are Temples Important?
Temples are important for many reasons:
- Community Gathering: They are places where people who share the same faith can come together.
- Spiritual Connection: Many believe temples help them feel closer to their god or gods.
- Learning and Teaching: Temples can be centers for religious education and study.
- History and Art: Many temples are very old and show amazing architecture and art from different times.
Ancient Temples
Some of the oldest buildings ever found are temples. They tell us a lot about how ancient people lived and what they believed.
Göbekli Tepe: The Oldest Temple?
One of the most amazing ancient sites is Göbekli Tepe in modern-day Turkey. It was built about 11,500 years ago! Many experts believe it is the oldest known temple in the world. It shows that people were building complex religious sites even before they started farming.
Ziggurats and Egyptian Temples
In ancient Mesopotamia, people built huge, stepped temples called ziggurats. These were like giant pyramids with flat tops. In ancient Egypt, temples like Luxor Temple were massive and decorated with hieroglyphs and statues. They were dedicated to pharaohs and gods.
Modern Temples
Temples are still being built today, often with amazing designs and for large communities.
Hindu Temples Today
Modern Hindu temples, like the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, India, are huge and very detailed. They are not just places of worship but also cultural centers.
Temples Around the World
You can find beautiful temples in almost every country. For example, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, is a famous complex where emperors used to pray for good harvests. The Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, India, is the holiest site for Sikhs.
Images for kids
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Göbekli Tepe was founded about 11,500 years ago. It is arguably the world's oldest known temple.
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The Erechtheion in Athens, Greece, is associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians, such as the Palladion, a xoanon of Athena Polias
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Akshardham Temple, a Hindu temple in New Delhi, India.
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Mahabodhi temple, Bihar, India
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The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens
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Temple of Garni, Armenia
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The Yazd Atash Behram
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Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza located on top of Kukulcan pyramid.
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A model of Herod's Temple adjacent to the Shrine of the Book exhibit at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
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Basilique du Sacré-Coeur IMG 1271.jpg
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Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio
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LDS temple in Salt Lake City, Utah
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Mount Ecclesia's Temple
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A Typical Masonic Lodge
